Index device



Aug. 18, 1931.

INDEX DEV'IGE Filed June 11,.' 1925 B'Shfegts-Sheet 2- l l 1 lI I l I I l Il l I I I 1 l I l I I I l I l II I i ll l I l I I I I I l I Il II. IIII .HIIIII IIsI. III II wwf/Wok /Q- @we if ZW/ A free/V5( Aug. 18, 1931.i J. H. RAND. a

INDEX DEVI CE Filed June 11I 1925 5 sheets-sheet s ATTO//VEKS.

Aug. 18, 1931. J. H. RAND. JR l1,819,621

INDEX DEVICE Filed June ll, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 18,' 1.931'.

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J. H. RAND. JR"

INDEX DEVICE Filed June 11,`19z5 nwnn'nwwnnwn 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wf/via? MS/f ,WTO/@via 45 from the user, whereby the user may Patented Aug. 1S, 1931 STATES PATENT oFFicE AMES H. RAND, JR., OF TONAVANDA, NEV YORK, ASSGNOR, v:BY MESNE .ASSIGN- lVIENTS, TO REMENGTG? RND NC., OF .NEJJ YORK, N. Y., A. rCORPORATION OF DELAWARE Application filed June 11,

rl'his invention relates to improvements in index or record devices, more particularly to index cabinets in which a plurality ot slides, pane-ls or supports is arranged so as to move l; from an inoperative position in a cabinet to 1, overlapping relation with their edges exposed vone beyond the other for the purpose of lexposing data relative to subject matter on the cards.

"The invention further relates to a table or support for a bank or series of such cabinets.

ln la relatively large installation of cabinets ot this character, it is desirable that ythe cabinets be arranged so that all the records in the cabinets are readily accessible with im the least effort on the part ot the user and that the cabinets be constructed and arranged so as to contain the maximum number of records in a minimum ot space.

Some cabinets heretofore provided have been in the torni ot bo'Xes or cases open at the tro-nt and constructed to support a plurality ot horizontal slides or panels carrying `the record matter oi cards, and the slides have been constructed so as to permit them to be pulled out a-nd extended downwardly to permitA the records to be viewed or worked upon. This arrangement has necessitated the provision of a relatively wide shelt1 ory support in Jiront of the cabinets to support 'the `front 35 ends of the ltrays in operative position, and

the various movements necessary to bring the records to position for use required-considcrable eort.

The objects ot the present invention Vare Vto 40 provide a table or similar support of novel construction, and to arrange a Aplurality ot cabinets cooperating with said support in such manner that each cabinet will be disf posed at 'substantially the saine distance have ready access to all the records in the series of cabinets without moving Jfrom -one position to another 1 also to provide a plurality of such cabinets with means whereby each cabinet 50 may contain a plurality ot vertically dis- NDEX DEVCE 1925. Serial (No. 36,365.

posed record bearingslides or members, any one lol? which may be readily moved or projected outot its cabinet to an operative position, whereby all the records are equal-ly visible at a comfortable level'relative to the eyes of the user; also to provide a table -or support for a series of cabinets ot the character v'described having a plurality of recesses or apertures in its supporting surface for the reception ot the cabinets; also to 4construct and arrange the cabinets so thateach cabinet lis adapted to support a plural-ity o-t the slides or panels in an ascending series whereby by providing each panel with an index member or tab, the/contents of all ot the slides or panels in the entire series fare visible trom one position. i 1

@ther objects are to provide the cabinets with a `plurality of independent, readily removable -guide members or devices tor the panels adapted to be disposed flatwise, one behind another, so as to exten-d vertically in 'the cabinet with their upper edges exposed one behind another; also to provide each guide member with means for releasably supporti-ng a record 4bearing slide within the cabinet when not in use, and to provide manually actuated, mechanical means for moving the slide relatively to said guide member to a position in which the records thereon are visible and accessible.

Other objects are to improve record cabinets or devices of the character stated -in the other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the drawings 'Fig 1 is a front elevation of va table or support and a plurality of index or record cabinets embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof with one cabinet omitted.

Fig. 3 is a transverse., vertical section thereof oii lineB- Fig. Q.

Fig. e is a .front elevation on an enlarged scale, ot one ot the guide devices or containers for the record bearing panels or slides showing a panel therein Vin its inoperative position.

.5 is a Stop plan view thereof.

Fig 6 is a vert-ical, sectional elevation thereof on line 6 6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional elevation, partly broken away, of the parts shown in Fig. 4, but with the record supporting panel partly projected out of the guide device.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. T, showing a slightly modified construction, and with the record panel in its inoperative position.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of three of the guide devices for the record supporting panels, with one of said panels projecting outwardly from its guide, in position to permit the record de- -vices thereon to be worked upon.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, on line 10-10,

Fig. 7

F 1g. 11 1s a fragmentary, transverse section of a portion of one of the panels, showing a plurality of the record devices thereon.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse section on an enlarged scale on line 12-12, Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, on line 13-13, Fig 7.

Fig. 14 is a similar view on line 14-14 Fig. 8, of the modified construction.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the member for supporting the holding dog of one of the slide containers.

Fig. 16 is a transverse, sectional elevation of a desk and cabinet of slightly modified construction.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1-3, a table or support A is shown having associated therewith a plurality of index or record cabinets B each arranged to contain a plurality of Avertical slides 2O adapted to be moved to display a plurality of records or cards C preferably supported thereon in overlapping, nested relation, the slides being readily accessible, and all substantially equally visible by a .user seated approximately at the position X,

Fig. 2.

For this purpose, the cabinets B are arranged so as to extend radially relatively to said position, and are disposed in a compact, arcuate series so that thefront of each cabinet is substantially the same distance from a user seated at X. Each end cabinet of the series is therefore disposed near the front edge of the table top 22, and the intermediate cabinets are disposed rearwardly of said end cabinets so as to provide a substantial working space 23 in front of the cabinets on said top 22. The table top 22 is disposed approximately7 at the usual height for comfortable use by a person sitting at the positio'n X, and to enable the records to be viewed and worked upon from said sitting position, the cabinets B are arranged in recesses or pockets 24 in the top 22 with their front edges 25 substantially i'iush with said top, and the slides 20 are disposed vertically on edge one behind the other in parallel arrangement with their top edges projecting one above another from front to rear of the cabinets.

Each of the slides may be provided with a suitable index tab or indicator 26 at its upper edge adapted to bear suitable data indicative of the contents of the slide, see Figs. 4 and 7.

To enable the slides 20 to be vertically supported, the cabinets B are constructed in the form of open topped boxes or cases each having vertical front and rear walls 23 and 2", and vertical side walls 30, and each slide 20 is disposed within a vertical guide member or container 31.

The slides 2O may be of any suitable construction adapting them to support the cards or record members C in overlapping arrangement, and in the construction shown, each slide is fornied of sheet metal and comrises a back wall or member 33, inturned anged sides 34 beneath which the'lateral lugs 35 of the cards extend so as to be detachably and slidably retained on the slides, and a bottom flange or stop upon which the lower edge of trie bottom card rests. The cards are preferablyv nested in a well known inanner and are disposed with their free, or record displaying' edges or pockets 37 at the top, see Fig. 9, so that the cards or record members may be swung downwardly as shown in that figure for the purpose of exposing the surfaces of the cards. ihe cards C of themselves constitute no part of the invention, and any other suitable form of card, card holder or record member adapted for use on a slide of the character described may be used, and for the salie of brevity, these inembers will be hereinafter referred to as cards.

Each guide member or container 31 is also preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises a vertical back wall 40, opposite forwardly extending side portions 42 and 43 having straight side edges 42a43a and flat front faces 42?) and 435 respectively. The faces 42?) and 436 are extended inwardly to form parallel overhanging vertical flanges 44, and the flanges 34 of the slides are adapted to engage beneath these flanges 44and be guided and retained in the container by said cooperating llanges between said side portions 42 and 43 of the container, see Figs. 4 and 5.

The. containers 31 are thus adapted to be detachably supported and arranUed flatwise vone behind another in the cabinets with their rear walls 40 abutting against the front faces 42?), 436 of adjacent containers, and the containers are maintained in a compact series by the engagement of their side faces 42a and 43a engaging the side walls 30 of the cabinets.

To permit the upper edges (and indicators 26 when used) et the slides to be arranged in a .rearwardly Yascending series in each cabinet, the containers 8l Vare supported in the cabinets with Vtheir :bottom walls or edges l? engaging an upwardly and rearwardly ei;- `tending fixed member Vor part 48 which, in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1423, also constitutes the bottom of the cabinet. rlhe top edges of lthe sides "30 of the cabinets `are preferably parallel with the bottoni 4B, so that the containers and slides are enclosed or conlined with 'only their upper vportions nor mally exposed at the top of the cabinet.

llVhen t'he individual cards bear index matter as in Fig. 9, each top card in each slide constitutes a visible index tor that slide, `and should th-e cards be rearranged at anytime, the card which is moved to the top of the vslide will be an index for the slide, so that collectively the headings thus provided will be t-he means for locating the matter on the other cards. Thus the index tabs are only required for particular uses.

Any suitable means may be provided for the purpose of holding the slides 2O in their lower positions. As shown in Figs. and 9-13, the bottom portion of each slide is formed or provided with a pair of depending arms 50 and 5l. One of these arms, as for instance arm 5l, is constructed topbe engaged by a suitable detent. The arm 5l is apertured at 52 for the reception of an offset shoulder 53 on a dog 5l pivotal'ly mounted at 55 in the bottom of the-side portion 43 ol' the contaner 3l, said portion being hollow as shown Figs. 7-13. The dog 54 is provided with an ear or lug 5S which is normally engaged on its outer side by a spring member 57 to hold the shoulder 58 of the dog in the aperture 52 of the slide, thus positively holding the slide in its retracted, lower position.

The manually operable means for retracting and releasing the dog 54 from the slide may'also be of any suitable construction, that shown comprising a cam or wedge block 59 having an inclined facet() adapted to engage the inner side of the lug of the dog. rl`he block 59 is ridigly attached to the lower end ot an operating rod or member 62 extending vertically in a housing 63 which constitutes a part of Vthe `side portion 48. The upper end of said rod 62 projects out of a vhole in the topGBa of the housing and is provided with a knob Gil at its upper end. A coil spring or other resilient member 65 is adapted to bear against `a lixedstop G6 within the housing 63 and against a ixed'collar 67 on `the rod, said spring being adapted to press the collar against the vtop piece '63a and hold the rod and the block 59' `in their upper positions. By depressing the rodGQ, the cam face 60 oi the block 59 will engage the lug 5G and move it to the 'right as shown inFig. 7 thus llreeing the yslide '20 "from the holding 'action ol the one vend of a cord or cable I3 which passes upwardly in another housing Tl in the slide portion 42 of the container and over a pulley or roller at the upper end thereof., and thence downwardly outside of said housing to the lower end of the slide 20, where the end of the cord is detachably secured to a clip Aor fitting 76 rigidly secured on the depending arm 50. A coil spring 7S, surrounding the rod ZO and having one end secured to said rod and its other end to a part of the housing 7l, is adapted to rotate the rod so as to wind the cord T53 t iereon and exert an upward pull -on the slide 20. rlhe tendency of the spring is to hold the slide in its upper position, and when the slide is lowered,the spring is placed under tension, the slide being held by the dog 54. Therefore, by merely depressing the rod 62, the slide is released and the spring 78 will at once rotate rod 70, wind upl the cord 73 and elevate the slide. l/Vhen the user has finished with the slide, it is only necessary to depress the-same into the container until the aperture `52 is opposite to the dog 54 whereupon the spring 57 will move the dog into its locking position therein. Other suitable slide projecting mechanism may be used it desired.

lStop means are preferably provided whereby the outward movement of the slide 2G is limited relativelyto the guide member or container 3l so as to not only prevent the slide from becoming disengaged from the guide, but also to stop it in such position that it will be adequately supported in its proj ected position so to be lirm enough toenable the records to beworled upon. F or this purpose the slide 2O is provided, near its lower end, with a lug or projection T9, which, when the slide moves upwardly is adapted to engage a stop member 80 formed on or secured to the top of the container. The lug T9 is so disposed thatk when it is in engagement with the stop 80, the arms 50 and 5l and lower part of the slide remain in the container and support the slide in its projected position.

ln order that the container 3l may be produced in .an efficient and practical manner, the housings 63, 7l, and 7d are preferably in the form o'll separate units so constructed that the slide holding, projecting and controlling mechanismscan be assembled therein beforey the housings Aare attached to the container.

Cil

.uns

In the particular construction shown, the

housing 63 is in the orin ot a sheet metal channel piece, see Fig. i3, the web 8l of which is slit lengthwise at the lower end and the two portions 82 this produced are bent so as to extend in the plane of the lianges 83 of the channel piece and are apertured tor the pivot ot the dog 5l, eee Fig. l5. The stop 66 may be formed or attached in the channel, the rod and spring (55 positioned in the housing and by tnen placing the housing in the container with the web 8l Ylacing inwardly as shown, and the end ot the rod (32 eX- tending through the top (33a, the housing may be secured in piace with the mechanism in operative position, by welding or otherwise securing the lianges 253 to the container, atteiwhich the knob ol is attached. 'ine housing 7l is likewise or channel formation, and the rod and spring 78 are readily assembled therein by bending up the integral pieces 72 to provide bearings tor the rod. ln this instance, the channel is secured by one of its lianges to thebottoni l? of the container'. rl'he housing 73 is fashioned d secured in the container in a somewhat similar manner to the housing 6l, the upper portion oi" the channel web being slit to provide bearing pieces for the pulley 75.

ln the construction described, the slides 2O when released, are projected to their extreme outer position relatively to the containers, being restrained only when the lugs 76 engage the stops 80. li desired, however, means may be provided whereby the slides may be held ina plurality oi intermediate positions, which positions may such as to expose only a few oi the upper records. 'm

ine modiiied form shown in Figs. t and lf-l is adapted tor such purpose, the slide 20a. in this instance being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures S5 along one or its vertical sides adapted for selective engagement ot a spring pressed dog 86 with the slide. rllhis dog is preferably pivotally arranged on the container Sie adjacent the upper end thereof and is adapted to be manually actuated by a cani block 87 lined on an operating rod 88. ln this case, a stop lug 8l) is termed on the extreme lower end ol the slide and is adapted to engage either the shoulder of the dogr So, or a. lixed stop 90 near the top of the container 31a. The stop 9() is so disposed that the slide will entend into the container a snilicient distance for proper support when in projected operative position.

lt should be understood that in this modified construction a spring and cable mechanism is provided substantially as in the lirst construction, so that by depressing the rod S8 and block 87 to release the slide 20o, and then relieving the pressure on said rod, the dog will enter that one of the apertures 535 which happens to be at, or about to arrive at the shouldered part of the dog.

In the modified construction, F ig. 16, there is shown a desk A having a flat top 22a and one or more apertures 24o each of which receives a cabinet B. vThe cabinets, as in the iirst construction, are adapted to receive a plurality of the containers 3l in each of which a slide 20 is disposed, and which supports a plurality of record members in overlapping relation, as before. The slide 20 is adapted to be releasably held in and projected from the container by the means heretoi'ore described, and which are actuated by the push rods 62.

The cabinets, in this construction, however, are not provided with means for supporting the container and slides in ascending series, but are each formed with a horizontal bottom plate adapted to support the slides so that 'their top edges are disposed in horizontal relation from iront to back of the cabinet. This arrangement is desirable under certain conditions, and when not in use, each cabinet may, it desired, be concealed b y a cover not shown) placed over the openings 2da so as to i'orm a substantially smooth desk top.

l"he index or record devices described are very practical and ot large capacity relatively to the space occupied, and the slides and the cards or record members being vertically disposed on the vertical slides, are all substantially equally accessible and equally visible from the position X at which 'the user is sitting. liloreover, the indexes in the various cabinets are rendered available for use by only a slight etfort on the part of the opera ive, it only being necessary to depress the operating rod ot the required slide, whereupon it will be quickly projected to its operative position in which the upper, exposed edges of tie cards are clearly visible to the operative, without changing his position.

After use, a' slight downward pressure on the slide returns the same within its cabinet where it is positively retained until again projected. Furthermore, the index may be rearranged from time to time to adapt it to particular circumstances vor conditions by lifting the containers with their slides out of the cases and transiierring them to other cases or transposing them in the cabinets.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a` record device, a plurality of slides each adapted to bear a plurality of record members thereon in overlapping, offset arrangement, a plurality of guide containers each of which is adapted to receive one of said slides, an open-topped case in which said containers are adapted to be disposed one behind another with the upper portions of said slides exposed, each of said containers having manually actuated means for projecting the slide outwardly to an operative position so that said record members may be lill" l l. tl

Leraeai flat on the tops of the remaining slides for convenient reference.

2. In a record device, a plurality of slides each adapted to hingedly support a plurality of record members thereon in overlapping, oii'set arrangement, an open-topped case in which said slides are adapted to be disposed one behind another with the upper portions of said slides exposed, and means in said case adapted to be manually actuated to move said slides outwardly of said case to a position so that said record members may lie ilat in operative position on the top of the remaining slides.

3. In a record device, a slide adapted to hingedly support a plurality oft record members in overlapping, offset relation with their edges exposed one beyond another, a con tainer for said slide comprising a back, and side portions embracing said slide and adapted to permit vertical movements thereof in said container and guide the same in said movements, said slide retaining the record members in an inoperative position when housed Within said container, means on said container for releasably holding said slide in said housed position, and said Container having manually operable means adapted, when actuated, to project said slide to an operative position extending out of said container with certain record members extending` into operative position substantially at right angles to said slide.

4. In a record device, a plurality of slides adapted to hingedly support record matter in overlapping offset position, a container for each slide constructed to permit vertical movements of said slide therein, a springpressed latch in each container adapted to engage a part on said slide to releasably hold said slide in a housed position Within said container, a manually operable member adapted to engage and retract said latch from engagement with said part to release said slide, and spring-actuated means in each container for projecting said slide out of said container when said latch is retracted so that Laid record matter is moved from nested to operative position, at substantially right angles to said slides.

5. In a record device, a slide adapted to support record matter in overlapping offset position, a container for said slide constructed to permit vertical movements of said slide therein, a spring-pressed latch on said container adapted to releasably engage a part on said slide to hold said slide in a housed position Within said container, a manually operable member adapted to engage and retract said latch from engagement with said part to release said slide, a roller in said container, a spring secured to said roller and which is under tension When said slide is in said container, and Which, when said latch is retracted, is

adapted to rotate saidl roller, acable or the lilre attached to, said roller and to said' slide Which is adapted to be Wound on said roller when theY sameV is rotated-by said spring to projectsaid'slide out of said container.

6e In arecord device, a slide adapted to support record matter in overlapping offset position., a container for said slide constructed to permitA vertical movements of' said slide therein, a spring-pressed latch on saidpcontainer adapted to engagev a part on said. slide to releasabl-y hold said-.slide in a housed position Within said container, a manually operable member adapted to engage and retract said latch from engagement With said part to release said slide, spring-actuated means on said container connected to and for projecting said slide out of said container when said latch is retracted, a housing secured in said container in which said springpressed latch and said manually operable member are mounted, a housing secured in said container in which said spring-actuated slide projecting means are mounted.

7. Inarecord device, a slide adapted to supaort record matter in overlapping offset position, a container for said slide constructed to permit vertical movements of said slide therein, a spring-pressed latch on said container adapted to engage a part on said slide to relcasably hold said slide in a housed position Within said container, a manually operable member adapted to enga-ge and retract said latch from engagement With said part to release said slide, spring-actuated means on said container 'for projecting said slide out or" said container when said latch is retracted, and a housing secured in said container in Which said spring-pressed latch and said manually operable member are mounted, and integral portions on said housing adapted to form bearing portions for said latch.

8. In a record device, the combination of a plurality of cabinets, a support having a plurality ot apertures for the reception of said cabinets, a plural-ity of record-bearing slides for each cabinet, and a separate container for each slide arranged in said cabinets, means for vertically supporting a number of said containers in each cabinet with their upper portions arranged one behind and above another whereby the upper portions of the slides are all substantially visible from a given position, means on each container for releasably holding its slide Within said container, means adapted to be be manually actuated to release said holding means, and means adapted to automatically project said slide out of said container when said holding` means have been released.

9. An index file, comprising a cabinet, a plurality of containers independently and removably positioned in said cabinet in adjacent relation, a record carrying slide member slidably mounted in each container, and

manually controlled meansI in each container for projecting the slide Aoutwardly therefrom.

10. An indeX file, comprising a cabinet, a plurality of containers independently and removably positioned in said cabinet in adjacent relation, a record carrying slide member slidably mounted in each container, and self-contained operating means in each container for projecting the slide outwardly 10 therefrom.

JAMES H. RAND, JR. 

